Conveying mechanism



AMay 29, '1923.

v G. RECK CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 ZZ'G DCK May 29, 1923. EASQHS A. G. RECK CONVEYING MECHANISM Filed July 5, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 29, i223, l

arteria rear carica.

.ANZI G. BECK, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

CN'VEYING MECIISM,

application mea July e, 1era serial No. 308,449.

To all whom it may cof/acera.'1

Be :it known that MZI G. RECK a citizen of the United Statesjresiding at Columbus, .in the county ofv Franklin and State of Ohio,'has invented 'certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying Mechanism, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates broadly to conveying mechanism, and has particular reference to an improved automatic structure primarily adaptable for use in baking establishments for the purpose of reducing the manual handling of bread or other baking products to a minimum, thus serving to promote lsanitation and providing mcans for expediting production together with an accompanying reduction in labo-r costs.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of conveying mechanism of the above character which 1s so designed as to receive the baked products im- Inediately upon their delivery from an oven and to conduct the same to a traveling and cooling conveyor upon which the products are deposited, said cooling conveyor being of peculiar construction and embodying a plurality of open frames, whereby through the use ot which air may circulate around all sides of the rducts carried by said frames thus effecting a uniform cooling of the products during their travel along said conveyor, the structure permitting of a thorough and complete cooling of the prodnets so that when discharged from the conveyor said products will be in a suitable con,-

dition -for wrapping or dling. i

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a primary conveyor, which latter being arranged immediately adjacent to an array of baking ovens in orother ,general hander to receive the products of the latter and part obvious and in to conduct the same to the cooling conveyor, and an oscillatory conveyor being mounted between the primary conveyor and the ,cool ing conveyor in order to provide means for ldistributing the oven products over the full Widths of the cooling conveyor, the latter being of an appreciably greater width than the primary conveyor.

Other 'objects of the invention will be in part pointed out hereinafter.

ln the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specilication:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the arrangement of the several conveyors comprising the present invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan view of a ortion of the cooling conveyor, and illustrating the relationship of the oscillatory conveyor with respect thereto,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view. taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a rear elevation of the structure disclosed in Figure 2,

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken through the chain structure of the cooling conveyor,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the cooling conveyor, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary enlarged'plan view of the support.

Referring more particularly to the details of the invention as they are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, an array of baking ovens is indicated by the numeral l, and eX- tending longitudinally of the ovens andimmediately contiguous thereto is a traveling primary conveyor 2. The latter is so positioned that when baked products arewithdrawn from the ovens the same may be deposited upon the conveyor and conducted away from the ovens without involving manual handling or touching to any considerable degree. The conveyor 2 may be driven in any suitable manner so that its upper portion will travel in the direction indicated by the arrow B, and upon reaching the end of said conveyor the products will be discharged into a suitable chute 3. Leading out of the chute 3 is a laterally directed cross conveyor 4, which by being provided with transverse flights 5 will enable the. products to be conducted in an oblique upward direction, as is indicated by the arrow C. The conveyor 4 terminates in a gravity chute 6 which leads into an oscillatory conveyor 7, which has its fulcrum end constantly positioned beneath the discharge end of the chute 6 so as to be capable of receiving the products discharged from the cross conveyor at any position of angularity which the oscillatory conveyor may assume with respect to the discharge end of the chute 6. Products positioned upon the oscillatory conveyor are conducted in the direction indicated by the arrow D and are discharged upon a relatively broad cooling conveyor 8. The comparative diierenccs in width of the conveyors 4 and 8 necessitate the use ofthe oscillatory conveyor 7, in order 4and 12 the bread is ermitted to travel for that the baked products may be distributed an extended period o time in order'that the over `substantially the entire width of the same may be completely cooled upon reachcooling conveyor. The specific construction ing the discharge conveyor, and by doubling of this cooling conveyor will be hereinafter the cooling conveyors considerable economy more fully set forth but at this juncture it is is obtained in floor space, but it is obvious merely sufficient to state that the conveyor 8 that if desired only one of the cooling conis of op n work construction, in order that veyors need be employed and from this it the brea orother products carried thereby will be gathered that the arrangement of the may have all of their sides and surfaces ex- Cooling conveyors is mainly dependent upon posed to the atmosphere so that a uniform the structural peculiarities of the building in and rapid cooling of the same may be accomwhich they are situated. Through the use of plished. The conveyor 8 is adapted to travel the conveying mechanism set forth the necesat a comparatively slow rate of speed in order sity of placing the bread by hand into transp to allow the products sufficient time to thorporting receptacles or trays is eliminated oughly cool; and said conveyor may be of and the use of drying roomslikewise avoided. any desired length or actuated at any de- By enabling the hea-t Of the baked products -sired speed in order that the cooling .of the to dissipate substantially from the 'time they products may be fully and accurately govare discharged from the ovens prevents any erned. To economize infspace, and to render single portionor area of the baking estabthe conveying mechanism as a whole comlishment from becoming ove rheat,ed,`and this paratively compact, the conveyor 7 is formed distribution of heat effects` il mOIB rapid and so that the same will discharge its products uniform cooling of theproducts. The conupon a second conveyor 9, which latter is struction of the cooling conveyors forms an driven to conduct the products in the direcessential part of the present invention. In e0 tion'indicated by the arrow E and efects the this instance said conveyors are formed to discharge of the products into a curved and include a piurality of longitudinally extendgravity chute 10, which is positioned so that ing guide frames 19, which are preferably its discharge end is'in substantial registra.- formed of metal and lare supported in any tion with the fulcrum end of a second oscil'- suitable manner. As shown, the guide 95 latory conveyor 11, the latter being substanframes are adapted to carry at their` ends a tially identical in construction and operation plurality of journaled shafts upon which the as regards the first named oscillatory consprocket wheels 20 are fixedlymounted, and veyor 7. The conveyor 11 discharges upon a these sprocket wheels are arranged to. rev second cooling conveyor 12 which is identical ceive the chain structures 21 of said cooling 100 to the conveyor 8 and is formed to convey the conveyors. In this instance said chain strucbaked products in the direction indicated by tures each consists of .a plurality of -articuthe arrow F. Through the use of the second lately connected links 21 which are arranged oscillatory conveyor bread carried by the in pairs, and their adjoining ends are pivotconveyor 9 is distributed over the full width ally united by means of transversely extend- 105 of the conveyor 12. This arrangement preing stud shafts 22. Anti-frict`ion rollers 28 vents grouping of the products and conseare journaled upon the stud shafts and serve quently distributes the same to properly to maintain said links in suitably spaced spaced cooling positions. The other end of relation, and said rollers are further art e conveyor 12 terminates inL a discharge Vranged to engage with the guide frames 19 so apron 13 which is positioned to deposit the that the movements of lthe chain structures then cool bread or other baked products upon may be `facilitated and economy in applied a transverse conveyor 14, which leadsy the power obtained. By spacing the links of products in the direction indicated by the the chain structure in the manner described, arrow G and transfers the same to a disit is possible for the teeth of the sprockets 2O 115 charge conveyor 15 by means of a curved to enter said links and in this manuel' to effect chute 16. Transverse conveyors 17 are lothe movement of said chain structures.

cated contiguous to the discharge conveyor Oppositely disposedpaiis of links are arand by means of which the products may be ranged to have secured thereto rigid angle conducted to a battery of Wrapping machines clips 24, to which are secured transversely ex- 18 and thence delivered to suitable points tending angle members 25, the inwardly exfor shipment. Through the arrangement of tending edges of the latter being suitablyv conveyors described, it Will be manifest that perforated and designed to receive the. hook the products of the ovens 1 are handled to but shaped ends of a plurality of cross wires 2G, avery limited extent, and in fact the present which constitutes an open Work support for arrangement of conveyors the bread is only the reception of the products delivered to touchedV when the same is being transferred said cooling conveyors. bviously, the crossk from the discharge conveyor 15 into the wires will efficiently serve to support thel wrapping machine conveyor 17. Through products upon said conveyors and at the same the arrangement of the cooling conveyors 8 time will offer but a minimum of resistance' .,l30

.struction the forward to the circulation of air around all of the surfaces of said products, so that this circulation of air will effect a thorough and unlform cooling of all portions of the products. Owing to the manner in which the cross wires 26 are supported it will be obvious that the links 21 are capable of flexing.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for operating the conveyors, and in this instance a motor 2T has been illustrated as effecting the movement of the cooling conveyors 8 and 12'. To accomplish this said motor 2i' may have its shaft equipped with a pinion 28, which is arranged for meshingengagement with an`enlarged gear 29, the latter being carriedupon a cross shaft 30. (lne end of this shaft is equipped with a relatively small sprocket over which a drive chain 31 is passed, the latter leading to an enlarged sprocket carried upon one of the shafts for operating the sprocket wheels 20. ln this manner it will be noted that the speed of the motor 27 is greatly reduced when its power is transmitted to the cooling conveyor 8, so that the movement of the latter may take place in the required relatively slow manner.

The other end of the shaft 550 is provided with a pinion 32, which meshes with an enlarged'gear carried `upon a second counter shaft 34.- This shaft is also equipped atone end with a small sprocket over which a chain 35 is trained, the latter leading to the drive axle or shaft of the -cooling conveyor 12. This arrangement of gearing imparts the requisite slow movement tothe conveyor 12. The mechanism for oscillating the conveyors 7 and 11 is substantially identical, and hence a description for one will suiiice for the other. Thus,.to control the operation of the conveyor il, the same is formed to include a U shaped frame 36 which is mounted for pivotal movement about a. vertical axis which in this instance is in the form of an upstanding shaft 37. the latter being suitably iournaled within cross bars 38 forming a. part of the frames 19. Connected with the vertical portions of the frame 36 are the sides 39 of the conveyor, and in this instance these sides are equipped,l with depending bearings in which are journaled rollers 40, the latter being arranged for engagement with an arcuate track 41 connected with one of the cross bars 3S. By virtue of this conprojecting end of the conveyor 1l will he suitably supported for swinging movement.' Journaled within the sides 5l?) and extending transversely across the same are a plurality of rolls 42, over which an endless apron 43 is trained, the latter being disposed as to underlie the chute 10 so as to be in a position to receive bread or other material discharged from the latter.

`To effect. the operation of the apron 43, the counter shaft 34 is equipped with a seclfbars ond sprocket over which is trained a chain 41, which leads to a sprocket located on a short shaft section 45, whereby upon the rotation of the counter shaft motion will be imparted to the shaft section 45. The latter is equipped with a beveled gear 46 which is disposed to mesh with a similar gear et?. carried `upon a longitudinally `extending shaft 48. This shaft 4S is suitably journaled upon the frame 19 and has its opposite end equipped with a sprocket over which is trained a chain 19, said latter chain leading to a sprocket carried upon a stud shaft 50 which, in turn, is suitably journaled within bea-rings 51 supported by one of the cross The other end of the stud shaft 50, opposite to its power, receiving end, is equipped with a beveled gear 52, which meshes with a similar gear 53 carried upon the shaft 37. In this manner the operation of the motor 27 will effect the rotation of the shaft 37. The upper end of the latter is equipped with a beveled gear 54, which meshes with a similar gea-r 55 carried upon a transversely extending shaft 56, the latter being jurnaled for rotation within the sides of the U shaped frames 36. One of the ends of the shaft 56 is equipped with a sprocket over which is trained a chain 57, and the latter is also trained over another sprocket carried upon the protruding end 58 of one of the rolls 42. lt will thus be seen that through the s vstem of gearing described, motion may be imparted from the motor 27 to the apron 43 and in this manner the discharge of bread from said apron upon the cooling conveyor l2 may be effected.

To continuously operate the -conveyor 11 first in one direction andv then the underside of the frame 36 is equipped with a fixed crank arm 59 to the free end' of which is connected a link 60, the latter having its opposite end connected with a reciprocatory rod (il. which is mounted in a firedl bearing 62 carried by one of the cross bars 38. The other end oi the rod 61 is connected with a pitman G3 which` in turn, has its opposite end connected with the free end of a second crank arm G4.. 'This crank arm is mounted for rotation upon a shaft G5 which also carries a gear G6, the latter being arranged for meshing engagement with a pinion G7 carried upon the shaft 48. Through the construction described, when the motor 27 is in the state of rotation power will he imparted to the cooling conveyors 7, 8 and. 12 and also to the apron 43 of the oscillatory conveyor 11; moreover, through lthe construction set forth the conveyor 11 will be caused to continuously reciprocate so that its discharge end will be constantly positioned over a new portion of the conveyor 12. By virtue of this arrangement it Will be manifest that bread or the like will be distributed over the full Width of either of the in the other,

cooling conveyors by the oscillatory structurc described and by this manner ot placing the bread greater advantage is to be had with regard to its rapidity in cooling,

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying it will be observed that reliable and ell'ective mechanism has been provided for mechanically handling and cooling oven products and one wherein the parts are so distributed as to take full advantage and overcome 'the limitations ot' restricted building areas. Again, through the provision ot cooling conveyors the use of portable trays or carriers ot common employment in transporting bread from the ovens to shipping points is eliminated and the heat radiated from grouped trays filled-With drying bread also precluded. By thus maintaining the bread in' atmospheres ot relatively low temperatures conditions arerendered more conducive toward an expeditious drying of the baked products. Through the construction described for forming the drying or cooling` conveyors a complete circulation ot' air around all sides of the products deposited thereon is maintained," thus providing a unii'orm cooling of the bread over all parts thereof. The conveying mechanism is turther of such construction as to permit the same to be suspended from the ceiling of the building, and in this manner economy in floor space is produced together with an agreeable elimination ot floor congestion. In short, the conveying mechanism provides means Jfor eliminating the manual handling otbaked oven products, reductions in labor costs and provides means drawings connections of said link sections,

affords consequent for quickly and thoroughly cooling the prod- ,ucts placed thereon.

lVhat l claim is:

1. In a cooling apparatus for bakery products, a pair ot spaced stationary rails, a chain movable longitudinally along each ot said rails` said chains including a plurality ot aligned ylink sections having pivotally united i adjoining' ends, .bars extending 'transversely ot said chains and having the ends thereof connected with said link sections intermediately ofthe pivotal connections betwecn the latter, there being a pair ot' said bars to each pair of adjacent link sections, and a support of open work construction between the inner edges ot each pair otdsaid bars and between the pivotal said support serving to permit ot' normal flexing on the part ot said chains.

2. ln a cooling apparatus orfbakery'products, a pair ot' spaced'stationary rails, chains movable along said rails and including pivotally connected and longitudinally aligned link sections, pintles uniting the ends ot said sections and provided with anti-friction rollers disposed for engagement with said rails, cross bars extending transversely ot said chains and connected at their ends 'with the inner sides of said links, and a support ot' open' work 4construction between the cross bars ot' each ot' the linkv sections of the chain. said support serving to permit ot a free circulation of air around all sides ot' the products positioned thereon. f i' ln testimony whereof l allix my signature.

AMZl (l, HECK. 

